POPSUGAR Celebrity

Taste Test: Wonka's Whimsical Ice Cream Flavors

Aug 20 2012 - 2:00pm

Browsing down the ice cream aisle, you can't help but notice Wonka's new ice cream flavors. First off, they're upside down to resemble Willy Wonka's notorious top hat. Secondly, the bright, swirly design is ultra psychedelic and lures you closer to the freezer door. With silly flavor names like Kernelpuff Caramelstuff and Kerfuffle Truffle, the mixes are equal parts exotic and whimsical, which is to be expected from Nestlé's Wonka brand. We taste tested all seven flavors, but only a few are truly scrumdiddlyumptious. Find out the flavors that are worth purchasing and which ones need to return to the Wonka factory for further testing.

Kernelpuff Caramelstuff

Kernelpuff Caramelstuff

What our tasters thought: Tasters loved the texture of the pralines and crunchies but wanted more of them. The "nice sweet-and-salty flavors were balanced," but a few found the ice cream really sweet.

What YumSugar thought: Buttery and salty, loaded with caramel and roasted flavors from the popcorn, Kernelpuff Caramelstuff is sticky sweet in a good way and would taste awesome in a freshly made waffle cone.

Tasters' rating average:

Caramel Nut Kadoozle

Caramel Nut Kadoozle

What our tasters thought: This flavor was not a hit amongst tasters, who described it as bland, burnt, and "weirdly stale" with a "flat caramel flavor." There were a few tasters who did enjoy the flavor and likened it to dulce de leche ice cream.

What YumSugar thought: The ice cream did taste stale and cheap, like a no-brand flavor from the grocery store. The nut brittle lacked nuts and tasted dry and gritty.

Tasters' rating average:

Chocolate Snowflakes

Chocolate Snowflakes

What our tasters thought: Votes were really divided for this flavor. Fans of stracciatella, or vanilla gelato with chocolate shavings, loved this flavor. However, those who prefer something more complex thought it was "okay, but not amazing," "boring with a cheap-tasting ice cream base," and "meh in comparison to the other interesting flavors."

What YumSugar thought: We loved this flavor, despite it being simple. The chocolate flakes really do melt in your mouth.

Tasters' rating average:

Chocolate Chipper Chip

Chocolate Chipper Chip

What our tasters thought: "Yes, yes! Salty, sweet, and chewy," one taster excitedly remarked. Despite this positive feedback, most of the tasters felt disappointed. Many were "excited about the flavor" and "liked it at first" but thought it had a "weird potato chip aftertaste" and "didn't have enough saltiness and mix-ins."

What YumSugar thought: Chocolate-covered chips? It sounded so good, yet this flavor was a letdown. There weren't enough chips mixed in, and it needed more saltiness to balance the sweet vanilla ice cream base.

Tasters' rating average:

Kerfuffle Truffle

The promise: Chocolate ice cream with chocolate truffles and swirls of fudge.

Kerfuffle Truffle

What our tasters thought: This flavor was a hit, adored for its "tasty, rich truffle flavor" and its "spot-on name." One taster called it "an upscale rocky road," and an impressed taster exclaimed, "Wow! That's what's up!"

What YumSugar thought: The truffles were thick and plentiful, and there was no skimping on the richness of this pint. Fluffy, truffly, and dark chocolatey, this flavor surpassed our expectations for sure.

Chocolate Mintropolis

Chocolate Mintropolis

What our tasters thought: It was "pretty delicious," but most felt unsatisfied, wishing it was "mintier and crunchier" with "more add-ins."

What YumSugar thought: We agree with our tasters. The chocolate ice cream base was good, but we wanted more mint cookies and peppermint patties.

Tasters' rating average:

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, only three out of seven flavors received four stars or higher: Kernelpuff Caramelstuff, Kerfuffle Truffle, and Chipperberry Swirl. We think Wonka ice cream does it right with some of its flavors, but most of them need to go back to the factory for further testing.